Gaskell Society Conference - Bedd Gelert

 The Conference, when I finally got there, was being held at the Royal Celtic Hotel in Caernafon and that was a much nicer experience than I had expected. My room was large, the bed was comfortable and there was a window seat with a curtain across it, so you could shut off the rest of the room, stretch out on  the window seat and look out at the sea. Not that I had a lot of time for dong that, but it was fun when I did. I didn't take many pictures of the inside of the hotel because, well, why would you? But I did take this one. I was intrigued by this when I first caught sight of it during the first set of talks on Saturday morning, changing my mind several times about whether it was a picture or a window onto a real patch of garden. In the event it turned out to be etched glass, and there were a few other examples of it dotted about the ground floor too. 

So one of the really good thigs about the GS conferences are the afternoon trips and the first one this time was to Bedd Gelert. A very pretty village, and the weather was wonderful  so cue lots of photos.

I thought this was a rather splendid fellow ....

who knew this? Not me. Saw the film on TV when I was about six! I think her autobiography is on the book poster too 

General valley view of the valley, on the walk to Gelert's grave. While I was doing this the narrow gauge train on which OH and brother were disporting themselves that afternoon went past behind that building. In the daft way people have, I waved, even though the train was too far away for anyone in it to see me, even had they been primed to look. 

Memorial stone recording the story 

Gelert. As kitsch statues of semi-mythical dogs go, I thought this wasn't bad. A huge improvement on Greyfriars Bobby anyway.

Oh yes, me trying to be David Bailey or some such

and yes, it really was warm enough for people to be swimming in the river. 

and in true Dorling Kindersley style, here's a picture of a gate! 

It's a pretty little village and there were plenty of cafes for tea and cake after the walk to the grave site.  Possibly the time allotted was a trifle too generous, but it was a warm relaxing afternoon, with interesting conversations, a pleasant stroll along a river and a cappucino with a piece of carrot cake. What's not to like?